It has come to light that the reorganization of the city's recreation department made by interim city manager Steve Hill may have been a violation of the city's charter and that such reorganization should have gone before council for approval in an open meeting.
Former interim city manager Steve Hill
Hill was recently removed from the interim city manager position he had held since April 2016 after the actions and other problems came to public light under a personnel complaint filed by recreation director Tammie French. While the personnel board decided some of the complaints made by French had merit, they were filed too late for action to be taken.
Crossville Parks and Recreation director Tammie French
French recently requested an investigation into harassment of her by the now fired recreation secretary Amy Hester and marketing director Billy Loggins that used an in house city messaging system to allegedly undermine French.
Changes made by Hill included moving the Palace Theatre operation and the Crossville Depot to be under the supervision of city marketing director Billy Loggins. In addition, the parks department maintenance personnel were taken out from the supervision of Tammie French and placed under the public works department.
Interim city manager Lee Lawson said that the changes made by Mr. Hill were currently under review but no changes have been made at the current time to undo the reorganization yet. Lawson said he interpreted the city charter as saying council approval was required but he was waiting for an opinion from city attorney Will Ridley.
The Crossville city charter says in Article XVI section 1 (1) "Within the framework established by this charter, the administrative organization of the city shall be organized into departments of general government, finance, and such other departments necessary to provide health, welfare, police, recreational, fire, public works, utilities and other municipal services as shall be provided in a plan of administrative organization to be developed by the City Manager and submitted to the council for approval." (emphasis added)
Lawson said it is possible that the changes may be left in place for a new city manager to decide what needs to be done but a final decision has not yet been made.
Action in a special called meeting
changed the person holding interim city manager by a majority vote of
the Crossville city council Tuesday.
The special meeting was called by Mayor
James Mayberry on Saturday to consider the dismissal of interim city
manager Steve Hill. Council member Pam Harris was not present for
the meeting.
Mayor Mayberry opened the meeting
commenting, “I hope that the present council members consider the
citizens and the employees of Crossville in the importance of this
meeting's outcomes.” Mayberry then moved, “Due to pending
litigation, revelations of grievances and the recent personnel board
meeting and insecurity among employees that it is in the best
interest of the city to terminate Mr. Hill at the close of business
today.” He continued, “I don't feel that we have to start
discussion at day one of Mr. Hill's management employment and
controversy, but we can if we need to. Details of employee conflicts
at Parks and Rec, conflicts and lawsuits involved with our police
chief and potential future lawsuits should be familiar to all the
council members. My motion stand to potential end these conflicts
today.”
Council member Scot Shanks supported
Mayberry's motion.
Council and interim manager Steve Hill listen as
HR director Leah Crockett answers questions.
Council member J. H. Graham asked if
there was a report from the personnel board concerning the complaint
heard the previous week. The finding of the personnel board was
discussed and the action by the board to follow the recommendation of
the recommendations of the Municipal Technical Advisory Board (MTAS)
that there were actions that were grievances but the time to file a
complaint had expired. The board further recommended that there be
better communication between the city manager and the department
heads.
Councilman Danny Wyatt asked city
attorney Will Ridley if the council could hold pending litigation
against an individual?
Ridley answered, “The decision to
hire of fire a city manager was solely a political decision. However
you come to that decision is at your determination. It can be made
for any reason.
Wyatt continued that he needed some
clarification. “I don't understand the knee jerk reaction here in
the fourth quarter at the two minute warning? We're doing interviews
tonight.
Mayberry responded to Wyatt, “I
believe the last time a city manager was relieved of his duties, your
comments on that one were you just lost faith in his management
abilities. I have lost faith in Mr. Hill's management abilities.”
Councilman Shanks pointed out that
the personnel board was just a small part of the reason for the
action.
Mayberry added that the latest
unacceptable act of consorting with other employees and disrespecting
and intimidation of department heads I feel is unacceptable and I
don't think we need anybody's ruling on that because we've seen the
evidence in black and white.
Shanks commented, “I like Steve.
I've known him for a long time, but to keep Steve as city manaer is
not a business decision, that's a personal decision.” He added
that even though he hopes to have a manager hired soon, with
candidates dropping out it could be three or four months before it
could be finalized. “I just feel we're putting Crossville at risk
if we keep Steve in as city manager,” Shanks concluded.
Wyatt voiced that he had not heard some
firm evidence of that fact and added that he would like to hear some
to prove what Hill did wrong.
Mayberry answered that as far as they
know he's not broken any laws.
Graham also commented that Hill was a
close personal friend but he would make the decision based on
education and professionalism. He pointed out that even though Hill
had applied for the full time city manager position, he was not
selected for the interview process. Graham then made a motion to
call for the question. That motion was approved.
On the dismissal of Hill, Wyatt voted
no while Mayberry and Shanks voted yes. Graham passed on the first
call and then entered a yes vote. The motion was approved.
Council then moved to a discussion of
appointing a new interim manager but that created more issues as
there was not an item on the agenda but it was listed in the agenda
text on the discussion of dismissing Hill.
Mayberry explained that he had given
the matter a lot of thought and he felt a good person who was
involved in many city activities and was in a non political, neutral
position was IT department head Lee Lawson.
Graham said that he was not prepared to
discuss the replacement of the interim city manager and did not think
that subject was part of the agenda.
Mayberry said that the replacement was
germane to the agenda item and the council could make an exception
under the standing rules with a 2/3 vote of council. Mayberry then
moved to appoint Lawson until the permanent city manager can be
hired. Shanks supported the motion.
Council moved forward to suspend the
standing rules and the motion was approved with Mayberry, Graham and
Shanks approving and Wyatt opposed.
The motion for appointing Lawson
returned to the floor and was approved again by a three to one vote
with Wyatt opposed.
Mayor James Mayberry, right, swears in Lee Lawson
as Interim city manager.
Following the meeting adjournment,
Lawson was sworn in to begin the position as of January 18, 2017.
Left to right, following the action to appoint Lee Lawson as interim city manager, city clerk Sally Oglesby, Lawson and Mayor James Mayberry discuss city business.
Following the special called meeting that resulted in the removal of Steve Hill from the position of interim city manager, New police chief David Beaty and new interim city manager Lee Lawson were sworn in by Crossville Mayor James Mayberry.
We'll have more on the meeting and discussion soon.
David Beaty, left, is administered the oath of office as Crossville
police chief by Mayor James Mayberry.
Lee Lawson, left, the city's Information Technology Director
was selected to fill the position of interim city manager until a
new full time manager is selected. Here he is sworn in by
